Vacuum cleaner



Patented Mar. 1l, 1924.`

UNITED STATES* iiaraur OFFICE.

EGBEBT R. FIELD, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T EUREKA VACUUM CLEANERCOMPANY, OF DETROIT, IMICHIGAN, A CORPORATIONOF MICHIGAN.

VACUUM CLEANER.

Application led March 5, 1921. Serial No. 449,779.

T0 all whom it may concern.' Be it known that I, EGBERT R. FIELD, acitizen of the United States of America, residin v at Detroit, in thecounty of Wayne and vtate of Michigan, have invented certain new anduseful Im rovements in Vacuum Cleaners, of which t e following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to vacuum cleaning apparatus and refers moreparticularly to the portable type which is provided with a swinginghandle and with a suction tool directly connected to the fan casing.

The objects of my invention reside in the provision of a simple form oflock for retaining the handle in its different positions of rotativeadjustment; in the formation of the inner or pivotal end of the handleof soft light metal and the rovision of a wear plate upon the inner enof the handle for engagement with the ylocking latch whereby wear uy onthe inner end of the handle is avoide The invention has for lotherobjects 'the novel features of construction and combinations andarrangements of parts as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vacuum cleaner embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the locking` end of the handle;

igure 4 .is a cross section von the line 4 4 of Figure 3. y

The vacuum cleaner has the motor casing 1, thefan casing 2, and thesuction tool 3, and is sup orted by the rolls 4 at opposite ends of t esuction tool, and the caster wheel 5 at the rear end of the motorcasraised position, it is desirable to .retain the handle insubstantially horizontal position.

For securing the handle 6 in its substantially vertical and horizontalpositions, one of the furcations 10 of the handle has the head 14, theend fac-e of which is notched as at 15 and 16, the notches being be ondthe pivot 11. 17 is a tempered resilient atch detachably secured to therearface ofA the fan casing 2 as by means ofthe screws 18 and having thebead 19 opposite to the pivot 11 for alternative engagement in thenotches 15 and 16 for holding the handle in its substantially verticaland horizontal positions respectively. The portion of the face of thehead 14 intermediate these notches is slidable 'over vthe bead so thatthe intermediate ositions of the handle may be varied. The atch 17 hasthe free end 2O extending above the bead a sufficient distance so thatit may be manually engaged to move the bead out of the notch which itengages. By reason of this construction, the latch may be readilyremoved and replaced, and because of the increased leverage it is notnecessary to have as strong a latch as in a consti action where the lockis to the rear of the handle pivot. A

In order to make the handle of as light a weight as ossible, thebifurcated end ortion 10 is is of light weight, such as aluminum, and inorder to avoid objectionable Wear upon the head .14, the wear plate 21is provided having a shape corresponding to that of the head withregistering notches ingits outer periphery. This wear plate preferablyforms the inner side ofthe head and is seormed of some soft metal w ichlcured thereto when casting the bifurcated end portion. For more firmlyholding the `secured to one side of said furcation at the lower endthereof and corresponding in shape thereto, said wear plate havingstruck-outfars embedded in said furcation,

and a latch mounted on said fan casing enga eable with notches in saidwear plate for ho ding said handle in different posltions of rotativeadjustment relative to said motor casino'.

2. Ille combination with a vacuum cleaner having a motor casing and afan casing projecting beyond said motor casing to form a shoulder, of ahandle havin an end portion pivotally connected to said motor casing anda resilient one-piece latch rigidly secured directly to the rear face ofthe shoulder formed by the fan casing and extending upwardly along therear face of said shoulder, a portion of said latch being envageablewith the end portion of said handle for holding the latter in apredetermined position of rotative adjustment relative to said motorcasing.

3. The combination with a vacuum cleaner having a motor casing and aJfan casing connected to one end thereof, said motor casing having asmaller diameter than said fan casing whereby the latter forms ashoulder, of a handle pivotally connected to said motor casing adjacentto said fan casing and having a portion projecting beyond the pivot,said (projecting portion having a shoulder, an a latch member ri idlysecured directly to the rear face of t 1e shoulder formed by said fancasing and havin a projection intermediate its ends adapte to engage theshoulder upon the projecting portion of said handle to retain the latterin one position of rotative adjustment, the free end of said latch beingadapted to be manually engaged to disengage the projection from "saidshoulder.

4. The combination with a vacuum cleaner having a motor casing and a fancasing secured to one end thereof, said motor casing having a smallerdiameter than the fan casing whereby the latter forms a shoulder, of ahandle having a bifurcated portion pivoted upon said motor casing, onefurcation having a portion projecting beyond its pivot, the free end ofsaid projecting rtion having spaced notches therein, an a. substantiallyvertical yieldable latch rigidly secured directl to the rear face of theshoulder forme by said fan casing and having a projection intermediatethe ends adapted to alternately engage the notches in the projectingportion of said furcation for retaining said handle in differentpositions of rotative adjustment.

5. The combination with a portable appliance, of a handle having aportion constructed of relatively soft material, said portion beingpivotally connected to said appliance and having spaced notches formedin the end thereof beyond the pivot, means carried by said applianceadapted to alternately engage said notches to retain said handle indifferent positions of rotative adjustment, and a wear plate secured toone side of said portion and having notches therein registering with thenotches aforesaid for engagement by the retaining means whereby wearupon the portion constructed of soft material is avoided.

6. The combination with a vacuum cleaner having a motor casing and a fancasing, of a handle having a ortion constructed of relatively softmaterlal, said portion bein pivotally connected to said motor casing anhaving a notch formed therein beyond the pivot, means carried by saidfan casin adapted to engage said notch to retain sai handle in oneposition of rotative adjustment, and a wear plate secured to one side ofsaid portion and having a notch therein registering with the notchaforesaid for engagement by the retaining means whereby wear on theportion constructed of soft material is avoided.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

EGBERT R. FIELD.

